Just when Bangladesh’s southern region was picking itself up from the devastation of cyclones Sidr and Aila, the agriculture-based economy of the Barisal division again sustained damages worth almost Tk2.7476bn during the recent cyclone Mahasen on May 16, 2013.
Though loss of life was limited due to mass awareness, the backbone of the agro-economy in the region broke as flash flood caused by the cyclone and broken embankments swamped crop fields, affecting almost 400,000 families.
A primary assessment by the Barisal Department of Agricultural Extension Office said, a total of 72,143.65 tonnes of different crops cultivated on 153,444 hectares (22.13% of 6,93,076 hectares cultivated lands) sustained damages worth Tk274,76,65,050 affecting 401,015 farmer families.
The flash flood, saline water infiltration, water logging, heavy downpour not only damaged the crops but also poses serious threats to future cultivations, as the lands may turn to barren due to salinity, feared farmers.
The final estimate of damages will take some more time. The damages might increase if monsoon creates downpour but situation will improve if sunny weather continued for some days letting the water to recede, said Nazmul Huq, additional director of Barisal DAE.
The DAE office and control room of the divisional commissioner’s office said, several types of paddy , seasonal crops and vegetables, fruits, pulses, betel leaf, chili, jute, sesame, papaya, banana, ground nut, sunflower, sweet potato and others types of crops were mostly damaged by the cyclone.
Shafiqul Huq, a NGO worker in Charfession upazila under Bhola district informed, cracks in the flood control dam and heavy downpour has left different areas of Charfession, Monpura, Lalmohon, Sadar upazilas waterlogged.
Rashid Ali, a farmer from severely affected Kalapara and Chan Mia of Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali district said, not only the crops cultivated in the field, but also the crops recently harvested from the fields and preserved in the courtyards or houses were washed away by the flash flood caused by Mahasen and the post-cyclone downpour and cloudy weather.
Himangshu, a farmer of Hatempur under Patharghata upazila in Barguna, said, seedbeds prepared for Aush paddy cultivation in the region were totally damaged after they were submerged by saline water.
On other hand Barisal divisional commissioner’s office estimated that approximately 20,138 households were completely destroyed, 107,147 houses were damaged partially, affecting almost 1,228,470 families during Mahasen.
The cyclone also damaged 357 primary and 188 secondary schools, 591 higher secondary and degree colleges, 170 madrasas in the division.
